Copper stolen from AC units around Ocala

Published: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 10:20 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 10:21 a.m.

OCALA - Eight air conditioners from three separate locations were destroyed and copper stolen by vandals between Friday evening and early Monday morning, according to Ocala police.

In the first case, police went to the Easy Street Retail Center at 1925 S.W. 18th Court, which is currently vacant, and talked with a site manager.

The manager told an officer that six AC units were damaged and copper taken from them.

The report noted the last time the units were definitely intact was on Friday morning.

Also on Monday, officers went to Computer Marketing Innovations, 2324 N.E. Eighth Road, in reference to a copper theft. There, the business owner told officers that he turned on the AC but it was not working. When he went outside, he noticed that the unit was dismantled and the compressor was missing. The owner said everything had been in place on Friday when he left.

In the third case, officers went to the Shell gas station at 3495 W. Anthony Road and the clerk told them the cooler was not working and that the unit had been damaged and the copper stolen.

The clerk said everything had been fine on Friday when he left.

Anyone with information about any of these cases can call the Ocala Police Department at 369-7000 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP or visit http://ocalacrimestoppers.com.

<p>OCALA - Eight air conditioners from three separate locations were destroyed and copper stolen by vandals between Friday evening and early Monday morning, according to Ocala police.</p><p> In the first case, police went to the Easy Street Retail Center at 1925 S.W. 18th Court, which is currently vacant, and talked with a site manager.</p><p> The manager told an officer that six AC units were damaged and copper taken from them.</p><p> The report noted the last time the units were definitely intact was on Friday morning.</p><p> Also on Monday, officers went to Computer Marketing Innovations, 2324 N.E. Eighth Road, in reference to a copper theft. There, the business owner told officers that he turned on the AC but it was not working. When he went outside, he noticed that the unit was dismantled and the compressor was missing. The owner said everything had been in place on Friday when he left.</p><p> In the third case, officers went to the Shell gas station at 3495 W. Anthony Road and the clerk told them the cooler was not working and that the unit had been damaged and the copper stolen.</p><p> The clerk said everything had been fine on Friday when he left.</p><p> Anyone with information about any of these cases can call the Ocala Police Department at 369-7000 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP or visit http://ocalacrimestoppers.com.</p><p><i>- Austin L. Miller</i></p>